living

Too bad we focus on just one area in Marietta. Looks like more development out Rt 7..new Hotels coming and hopefully restaurants that offer a better choice and adult beverages. Soon, there will be no need for anyone to travel past the interstate exit. It will all be right there. Small minds=no growth.

McCabe

(living) I was not atemping to answer .( Sarek ) my opinion is close to his. I stated in the my last post on (Council discusses ’13 priorities) two days ago. This ( Amrmory Square . I know I would not have been for it without a solid bussiness plan which I did not believe it had . But just like everything it comes down to a vote from council and it passed. If I oppossed it and was a member I would have had to switch modes and worked on it as best as I could to give good imput and try to save taxpayer money on cost of construction and it use.

doyouvolunteer

Wow, this is such a polarizing issue. Funny, I have never even met my 3rd Ward Council Representative or been asked for an opinion on this matter. What if it doesn't get renovated? Tear it down? With what funds? None of these grants can be used to tear it down. Furthermore, who will maintain the area with the Armory gone? The city? Look at the city parks! ReSTORE maintains the bike path, the bump outs and the planting beds in their distict because it wouldn't get done otherwise. The Morning Rotary Club cares for the garden at Pike and 7th. How well would this area be maintained absent the Armory? Do we let the Armory sit, rot some more and continue to be an eyesore? There seem to a lot of complainers, what are your options?

Lizard

Tessie, If you had looked into these "grants" you'd find out that many, if not all of them, were obtained with tainted and falsified information. One of them, I found out, was gotten based on the stipulation that the Marietta citizens had voted to keep the Armory and renovate it. That was NEVER done. The only vote was to NOT TEAR IT DOWN while the council figured out what to do with it. We never voted to renovate the Armory.

Also, these grants provided monies which would not be released until the Armory was already under renovation. That's why the council decided to spend money in the bank to put new windows and doors in to show the state that renovation was underway. Then, they could get the state to release the grant money already approved! Who, by the way, starts out with new windows and doors in a building that needs total renovation? That's the LAST thing that should be contracted.

The whole thing is a scheme for politicians to feel good about. We're being played big

Tessie

Living and Rat, the $651,250 contract is funded through grants and other money that cannot be used for paving. If you're going to constantly complain about government spending, at least find out how things work. You should thank your lucky stars that there are some educated people on council and within the administration who understand the workings of the grant system. It's very clear that many citizens do not understand how the system works.

Lizard

Just like D.C., we are being played by these politicians who are racking up wages and retirement years at our expense. And all they know how to do is recklessly spend tax payer money and have no accountability. Moon just uses his position to enrich himself and be able to buy his alcohol cheaper. Armory is a waste. No real business plan and this newspaper doesn't even know how to report on that fact and pursue it.

But, the Times keeps getting awards (from its parent organization) for being a "great" newspaper! GO TIMES!!

smokehouse

All council members who have voted to spend money for the Armory and don't know how it will be used or how they plan to pay for the upkeep and utilities should be voted out of office in the next election. This is a waste of taxpayer money.

McCabe

If a member of council has questioned part of a contract to do city work that they think might cost us more money in this case with Denver. I see no problem with a clause beening added that they fully took the lead abatement in consideration and there will be no need for change orders in that dept. It's alway better to cover your bases. Not just say well they walked through I see no problem . Why wouldn't the rest of council say we can add that in . Every company misses something just one less you might have to pay .

Sarek

Does anyone know what the armory is going to be used for? Has any council member actually been honest enough to say there is no real use for the armory once the 4-5 million dollars has been spent to renovate it?

Does anyone care? Do any council members really know how to say "NO" to this reckless spending??